⁶ He sacrificed his children^(A) in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums^(B) and spiritists.^(C) He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

² When the days of your siege come to an end, burn^(A) a third^(B) of the hair inside the city. Take a third and strike it with the sword all around the city. And scatter a third to the wind.^(C) For I will pursue them with drawn sword.^(D)

¹⁷ Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “This is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you surrender^(A) to the officers of the king of Babylon, your life will be spared and this city will not be burned down; you and your family will live.^(B)

¹⁸ But if you will not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city will be given into the hands^(A) of the Babylonians and they will burn^(B) it down; you yourself will not escape^(C) from them.’”

⁶ One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another,^(A) because God was troubling them with every kind of distress.

¹⁰ Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing^(A) prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy^(B) of the Lord is your strength.”

⁷ you are to rise up from ambush and take the city. The Lord your God will give it into your hand.^(A)

² “I lifted you up from the dust^(A) and appointed you ruler^(B) over my people Israel, but you followed the ways of Jeroboam and caused^(C) my people Israel to sin and to arouse my anger by their sins.